Firsts...

Sam has had a few "firsts" lately and I wanted to share them with you! 

Sam cut his first tooth! (look closely...it's on the bottom!)

Sam started crawling forward for the first time! (he mastered scooting backwards a few weeks ago...now he is really on the move!)

Sam started standing up next to things for the first time!

Besides all of that fun, we got to go to MI for a short trip last week while my parents were home from CA for a few days. (they go back tomorrow...they're so lucky!)

We got to visit Great Grammy Smith and kept her laughing with the craziness the three little one's brought! She loved it!

Sam was particularly entertaining when he found the empty "toy box" and had a ball! What a face!

 

Here's all the kids at Grammy's!

We also got to spend time with Luke and Taylor and visit Chuck E. Cheeses for Luke's 8th b-day. Happy Birthday Luke!

Back home this week, Hannah had her last gymnastics class of the session. Since Brian had off for Presidents Day, we all got to go to watch her final "performance!" What a treat!

She really enjoys gymnastics and does really well, but we did decide to try tennis lessons next. So, stay tuned for pictures in the next couple of months of the next Steffi Graf!!! :O) 

Baby Reagan

Many of you know our dear friends Dan and Mar. Mar and I met our freshman year at Taylor and through the years have become wonderful, close friends. We've shared a house at TU, shared an apartment in Indy, stood up for each other in our weddings, shared fun weekends in MI at the lake and now, have shared the joys of parenting with one another. 

Mar is pregnant with their second child, baby Reagan Joy and they have a son, Jackson who is 2 (and good buddies with Hannah and Ellie!). On Feb. 25th, Mar is scheduled to deliver Reagan in Chicago. Please join us in praying for Dan, Mar, Jackson and Reagan, as several months ago Reagan was diagnosed with Trisomy 18. You can read more about their story and sweet baby Reagan at this blog: www.reaganisourjoy.blogspot.com

Heat Wave...

Okay, so we didn't exactly have a heat wave here in IL, but it certainly did warm up a LOT this weekend! It was in the mid-50's today!!! And, what do you do when it starts to warm up outside? 

On Friday (when it was "only" in the mid-40's):

You...watch your daughter lick the snow that is melting down the glass door. 

You...build a snowman with your daughter because it's actually warm enough for you to "brave" going outside (yes, I'm a wimp!)! Poor Ginger the snow woman only lasted a few short hours before the heat got to her. :O)

AND you...watch your daughter make her baby brother laugh by throwing snow at the window and being super goofy!

On Saturday when it got hotter:

You...wash all of the baby toys in hopes that ALL of the germs will stay away for the rest of the winter! (Poor Sammy is still fighting off his ear infection! We are on day 4 of the 2nd antibiotic to get rid of that nasty infection! Augh!)

And you...let your kids sit around in a tank top and diaper for a couple of hours before getting dressed to play outside!

Hope you had a WARM day too! (Sorry Mom and Dad...we noticed that we had the same temps that you did in Palm Springs today! I bet you were freezing!!! :O)

Precious sleeper

This is how I caught Sammy sleeping the other day. So cute!!!! Naturally, I laid him down so he could get a proper nap. :O)

*I took a video of him too and will try to add it here...if anyone has a secret on how to get videos on blogger, let me know! I have trouble every time I try it!!! (and I do condense the video to make it smaller...)

Snippets

Basically each day of the past few weeks has been busy with the same things...Mon-Wed. Hannah has school, Bible Study (when the kids are healthy enough), play dates with friends, doctor's appointments (because we haven't been that healthy) and just lots of time hanging out at home. 

Unfortunately, poor Sam has had a rough winter with illness. He had a bronchial thing just before Christmas that included an ear infection and just this past Monday I brought him in and he has another one! He's had a cough for a few weeks and I guess the gunk decided to settle in his ears and a bit in his chest. The doctor listened to his chest Monday and said it wasn't too bad...a good thing. Unfortunately, this morning, after being on antibiotics for several days, he was a bit worse again...upset stomach, lethargic, etc He perked up a bit after his morning nap (and the blow-out of all blow-outs!), so that's a good sign. Currently, he's napping again and we'll definitely be keeping a close eye on him. 

Okay, here are the snippets of our days...there's quite a few, so sit back and enjoy! 

Making (and licking) brownies!

Snow time!

Our "Fancy Nancy" party - Brian was gone one evening, so the girls and I dressed up and got "dolled" up to be super fancy! :O)

Sammy Boy's 2nd Haircut - Brian was the barber! 

A rather difficult task with a super squirmy 8 month old! :O)

What's a day without playing "dress-up?!"

(Hannah dressed Ellie all by herself!)

What I see every day - Hannah actively playing, getting crazy; Ellie (usually) content to play on her own; Sam sweetly sitting watching his Mommy. :O)

It does appear that Ellie is helping Sam here, however, SHE IS NOT. She's pushing him over...another common sight in our household. 

This is what happened when I walked away from the table for a few minutes to answer the phone and left Sam's baby food sitting there. Ellie got a hold of it and decided to "feed" Sam herself. As you can see, she wasn't too successful this time. :O)

This is Sam doing his goofy giggle...I just think it's such a fun face!

And finally a shot of our beautiful 3 children who 

add so much joy, love and laughter to our home!

Dreaming

I'm dreaming of warm weather and sun...can you tell?

So BIG!

Check out Sam's new trick! He's such a big boy and we're so proud of him! (as you'll be able to tell from Hannah and I screaming with excitement!) Okay, and sometimes he only does it with one arm, but it's still adorable! 

*sorry about the quality of the video...I'm still trying to figure out how to load a video on here w/out having to condense it to such a small size (therefore, losing the quality). I'm just happy I got it on here...it's taken me a few tries! Ahhh, computers! ;O)

SMILE

I promise to write more soon, but until then, enjoy this new pic of the Giere 3. 

Oh wait, I have one more...

Sammy boy got another hair cut...aren't they cute?!

Oh, the looks...

How is it that children, even babies, have a way to perfect "the look?" Really, there are several "looks" that, at least our kids, have gotten really good at. REALLY good at.

For instance, Sam's "I'm on the move and I'm so proud" look. (Sammy has now perfected 'crawling' backwards and getting himself it to some interesting tight spots!) 

And then there's Sam's natural"I'm just a happy baby" look...well, let's just say, it melts my heart.

Okay, on to Ellie...right now, she is the QUEEN of looks! She's got her, "I'm so cute and I know it!" look, her "I didn't do it" look and our favorite and most effective, the "I don't care if you're angry with me b/c I'm just going to smirk and I know you won't be mad anymore," look. Yeah, that one is TROUBLE! Check it out below!

She's posing here w/ "the look," but it really is quite accurate. Tell me how anyone CAN NOT laugh or smile when you see that face?!?! Also notice Hannah trying to do "the look"...she's just not quite as good at that one! :O)

Proud pizza maker! Cheese anyone?!

And last, but certainly not least, our precious Hannah. In her short 5 years of life, Hannah has become quite the little actress. In fact, on several occasions, Brian and I have considered getting her an agent. Naturally, this dramatic side of her comes in handy when she's giving us the "showing off" look, the "please don't be mad at me, even though I'm SO guilty" look and the, "I'm funny and know it," look. What a character! 

Up close

Beautiful baby blues...

How old is she again? Besides the redness around her mouth (she was eating apple slices), Ellie looks like she's such a little lady in this picture!

Poor Hannah...what happens when you make your little sister mad? She scratches you! (Yeah, it was not a pretty sight. I have to watch that little lady Ellie!!!)

8 Months Old!

I can't believe Sammy boy is 8 months old already! It has been so much fun watching him learn and grow each day! He is certainly an active boy (we think he's going to be a lot like his sister Hannah) and he's full of smiles! 

Handsome little man! (in need of another hair cut!!)

Peek-a-boo!

Smiley!

About the one and only time I've seen a paci in his mouth! He's one of those babies (who I didn't think existed) that will not use a paci!! I continue to leave them in his crib for him to play with/chew on and possibly suck and I found him like this the other day! :O)

He hasn't started crawling yet, but I think it's going to be very soon. And, to be honest, I'm nervous! I look around, especially in the toy room and realize how many small toys we have (mainly Hannah's princesses and accessories). So, I've already been telling the girls that we have to keep ALL small things away from Sam. Hopefully they get the idea! He's getting up on his hands and knees (sort of) all the time now and scoots himself backwards like a champ. Once he figures out how to go forward, there's no going back! :O)

Sam is really learning to enjoy food lately too. Unfortunately for him, he's not ready for Daddy's chip! 

Daddy, you're such a tease!!!

Just today, Sam did "so big" for the girls and I and I think our reaction scared him a bit. I was so excited! When you talk to a baby, it's hard to know if they're "getting" what you're saying and it is soooooo fun to finally see that he is! 

SO BIG!!!!

The girls have been so great with Sam lately. Hannah loves to carry him (don't worry, I'm always nearby), make him laugh (today she was waving her umbrella in front of him and he squealed with delight) and just plain love him. Ellie loves to bring him toys and every once in a while, try to feed him his baby food if I'm not looking. I so look forward to watching the three of them grow together and hopefully develop lasting, loving friendships and relationships.

Little Dude...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!